Interactions ofLactobacilliwith PathogenicStreptococcus pyogenes

Abstract

Objective. To determine whether (1) a decreased concentration ofLactobacilliallowsS. pyogenesto grow; (2)S. pyogenesis able to grow in the presence of healthyLactobacillusconcentrations; (3)S. pyogenesis capable of inhibitingLactobacilli.Methods. One hundred fifty patient samples ofS. pyogeneswere mixed with four different concentrations ofL. crispatusandL. jensenii. Colony counts and pH measurements were taken from these concentrations and compared usingt-tests and ANOVA statistical analyses.Results. Statistical tests showed no significant difference between the colony counts ofS. pyogenesby itself and growth when mixed withLactobacilli, and no significant difference between the colony counts ofS. pyogenesin the four different concentrations ofLactobacilli.Conclusion. The statistical data representing the growth of these two organisms suggests thatLactobacillidid not inhibit the growth ofS. pyogenes. Also,S. pyogenesdid not inhibit the growth ofLactobacilli.